“The best to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others”

-Mahatma Gandhi

Sometimes life gives you everything and sometimes it takes a lot from you. But there are some from whom life has always taken something or everything, but gave nothing. India Jagran believes that, some efforts are necessary to make their life better and give them some part of life which you have achieved, which can really make a difference in their life, which makes them to live a moment delightedly.
With the same thought and concern, India Jagran recently got associated with an NGO “The Earth Saviors’ Foundation”, with a motto to serve humanity.

It all started with the first day, we met Mr. Ravi Kalra who founded this internationally recognized NGO in 2008. Mr. Kalra, well-known Karma Yogi, social activist and environmentalist with selfless devotion for the welfare of less privileged people and for the protection of the environment. The NGO has 145+ permanent members including abandoned, homeless and bed-ridden senior citizens, mentally disabled people, also has a shelter to look after the deprived females, a rehabilitation school for poor children and a lot of campaigns for saving environment. It was “The Earth Saviors’ Foundation” only which started “DO NOT HONK” campaign in order to control noise pollution.

Mr. Ravi Kalra with people living at NGO

India Jagran team tries to give some happy moments to these people and tries to serve them in the best possible manner. It was really very heart soothening to help them.
We started with donating clothes and shoes to the women who resides there, They were all very happy, a little kindness and love really mean to them a lot.

This little concern from our side to them was so special for them.
Then our team got engaged with the children, teaching them, playing with them, serving them food and motivating them for their talent. We observed that almost all the children we met had got a talent in themselves; some really sings well, some good in dance, some good in studies. And believe it, they speak in English in American accent, it was not surprising as they had got teachers from different countries.

Our team tries to make people feel good and happy, who really might miss their family. It was not just about helping them with needs, its also about spending some time with them and making them feel that the world doesn’t end for them. Our single initiation made them happy. The people living their was feeling our team as their children, they was taking us in their shelters and treating us like their children.

It was not only us but their was a number of volunteers who serve their from different corners of the world.

Be kind and move forward to help these people, it will only take some of your time but it really make them feel like they are with their family.

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”
― Booker T. Washington

The Indian subcontinent, since its very inception on 15th August, 1947 has suffered severe pangs of terrorism from its neighboring countries; Pakistan, in particular. But till date, we are not in a position to tackle it properly and aggressively.

Take for example, The Nagaland and Mizoram insurgencies lasted 19 years before being brought under control and had required concerted counter-insurgency operations involving the Army at some stages. The Punjab insurgency, which too had external support, lasted 14 years. It was finally brought under control through effective use of state force. Left wing insurgency, currently in its most virulent phase, has dogged the country almost since independence. Call it the blasts in the Mumbai locals; the 26/11 attack on hotel Taj, the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight 814, every instance throws light on the slacky attitude of the Indian Government who is responsible in one way or the other, for fueling terrorism.

Despite the fact that India is the one and only country in the world whose 2 neighboring enemy countries possess atomic power, Indian Government has never shown enough political willpower to tackle it on front foot.

While a superpower like the US has the capability and the freedom to strike at the source of terrorism; India finds itself in a position where it is well nigh impossible to resort to the principle of ‘hot pursuit’, considering its consequences – an escalation of the conflict to a flashpoint scenario.

It sounds more of ‘an abyss of reason’ than India’s policy for a fair trial and right to life that while the US performs an Osama raid and brings about an end to the Al Qaida mastermind, Osama Bin Laden; India spends thousands of crores on the upkeep of terrorist Ajmal Kasab when half its population dies of hunger and poverty.

Moreover, the State’s policy of dialogues, negotiations and financial incentives come as a cropper. The rebel groups take full advantage of these appeasement attempts and continue with their activities. Such moves are at best short-term and usually counter-productive. Nor is the use of excessive force of much use and can prove counter-productive, given the power of the media and its right to information in a democracy.

The fact that India has turned a helpless state when it comes to curbing terrorism is a serious issue to gauge at. Few recent cases are enough to tell the world about Indian tolerance for terrorism. On 2 May, 2011, OSAMA BIN LADEN was killed by the US navy seal commandos in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Taking a cue, our army Chief General V.K. Singh said that India is capable of performing the kind of Abbottabad Operation in Pakistan. Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik supported it and repeated the warning to Pakistan. Moreover, main opposition party BJP leader and Defence Minister Mr.A.K. Antony also gave his consent. But the entire jubilance sublimed when our honourable Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh denied all speculations of repeated Abbottabad operations and gave a statement in Kabul, Afghanistan on 12th May saying “India wants to fight terrorism but India is not America and we will never do this kind of operation.”

Another faux pas took place when, on 11th May, India gave a list of 50 “most wanted fugitives” to Pakistan hiding in their country. It included 21 members of Dawood Ibrahim gang, 6 accused of 26/11 and others from Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahidin group. But the entire nation became a subject of mockery when 2 fugitives Wazahul Qamar Khan and Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan were found in India only. Wazahul, who was accused in Mulund train blast 2003 and has been on the bail, was traced to his residence Thande. Similarly Rashid Khan, who was no.24 in the wanted list is in Arther Road jail in Mumbai for 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case.

In another case, CBI went to Copenhagen to arrest Kim Davy, prime convict of the 1995 Puruliya Arms Drop case on 16th may 2011, where Davy’s lawyer told the CBI that the warrant had expired in January 2011.

All these 3 cases show the negligence and casual attitude of our intelligence and government. When the 1st mistake in the list was brought in the light, our Home Minister tried to conceal it saying it was just a manual error. But the 2nd mistake proved beyond doubt the easygoing attitude of our ministers who stay mute spectators and inactive representatives to issues of national significance. It was evident that as all the inputs of CBI, IB, NIA & all other agencies were cross-checked by the Home Ministry; it is their fault. And talk about the action taken by the Government- the blame shifted over somebody else’s shoulders and the subsequent suspension of an inspector and the transfer of an SP & a DSP. In a democracy such as India, is this the way in which the responsibility of blunders will be fixed?

This brings us to the vital need to build the capacity to detect and preempt acts of terrorism – which means the creation of a first rate intelligence grid that combines both technical intelligence (TECHINT) and human intelligence (HUMINT) capabilities. In federal structures such as in India, where law and order is a state subject, it is imperative that there be coordination between the Centre and the states because the first intelligence information will emanate either from the state or would need to be developed and pursued by the central intelligence agencies.

We should be worried as both external as well as internal threat to our security has increased tremendously. China has reached POK. Several battalion of Red Army has been positioned in Gilgit and Siachin. Nepal and Bangladesh have become an easy way for infiltration in India. Indians have been targeted in Afghanistan by Pakistani militants. Kashmir Valley is still in a state of violence.

So, all in all, we cannot afford to be in the “Que sera sera” situation. We ought to take advantage of our economic position in the world to put our political issues in international platform. “Halla Bol” is the need of the hour after the bloodmath of 26/11 as also to tackle the source of much of the present terrorism that afflicts the globe.

By Arpit Gupta & Poornima Dey

13th May, 2011 witnessed the much expected victory of Mamata Banerjee,
thus making her the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal and marking an
end of an era of continuous 34 years hegemony of the Left front.
With the “rubber chappal and cotton saree” trademark, this Gandhian-principled austere lady’s conflict against injustice
and misrule dates back to 1st January,1998 when she founded her own party “All India Trinamool Congress”.
Her slogan of “PARIBORTAN” to the people of Bengal and the crumbled red citadel and her emphasis on “MA MAATI MANUSH” brought out the true spirit of democracy where actually the will of the people ruled.

Mamata Banerjee has proved her mettle on several occasions in the past, the most prominent of them being the Singur and Nandigram controversies.
Though her efforts in saving the Singur land from the government for the Nano plant might have brought a sigh of relief for the farmers but it slackened the state of industrial investment in West Bengal. Yet, it became one of the opportunities which gave us a glimpse of Mamata’s capabilities as a leader and her initiation for real “paribortan”.

There is no doubt about the fact that West Bengal in the last few decades has been on a constant path of degradation. It has lost its glory in industry, commerce and art.
Its economy has been at an all time low. It depends on the Center miserably for its funds and money. Then there were the continuous strikes in the State called by the Left against their own government, infringement of the public rights and increasing crimes.
In the entire State of West Bengal, there was cadre rule. From getting water from hand pump to getting admission in school for children, getting any tender in state or completing any development project successfully; you had to have blessings from CPI cadres. Human rights were a namesake and media was restricted in its power.

All this chaos gave way to Maoist and Naxalites getting support in rural and tribal areas. Finally when the time came for every state govt. to respond to the biggest internal terror threat, the Left Front Govt. in West Bengal didn’t even join hands with the central govt. in its effort to solve their issues with the Maoists and the Naxalites.
In state assembly elections, 2006 ruling party won 233 out of 294 seats and felt that public support was with them.
In following years, controversial issues like Singur and Nandigram occurred.
That was the time when Mamata got public support and real “paribortan” started. Since then in each and every election like in municipal corporation election 2007, panchayati elections 2008, parliament election 2009, Mamata showed the Left front her growing power and stature.

West Bengal today needs not only development but also to delineate itself
from the Leftist principles and thought process and Mamata Banerjee has come in time for a change (paribortan).
Her successful election campaign, with her leading charge saying “Apnader Paribortan Chai” marks a rattle-fire demagogy to which the common man answers in the affirmative.
Ask the public exactly what change are they talking about and they might be mumb at the question but for all of us who can analyse, the change is very much there; the end of a 34 year old Marxist regime and the election of the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal.
That is the change for the moment.

What we gauge from a situation like this is that gone are the days when people used to fight each other over petty issues and political parties used agendas like mosques and temples to disunite them.
Today people fight for themselves unitedly against corrupt political practices. The definition of democracy
prevails like never before. Be it in countries like Libya, Tunisia, Egypt or our very own India, the pubic is aware of its rights and by choosing Mamata Banerjee as their elected representative, they have proved wrong the fallacy that an autocratic rule can prevail for long which disregards the interests of the common masses.

“With power, comes responsibility” is what it is said. The onus now rests upon Mamata Banerjee and the likes to prove that the power entrusted upon them by the public is not misused; to cleanse the system of its malpractices; to make right, the wrong; and to contribute to the development of a “shining and risingIndia” free from ignominious allegations.JAI HIND………

Last week was full of big news. Royal wedding of Kate and William, end of the biggest terrorist of the world Osama bin laden in Abbottabad. But the news which was full of pain and anger, was clash between farmers and police in Bhatta and Parsol villages in Gautam Budh nagar of Uttar Pradesh over a land acquisition issue.
The Uttar Pradesh government is acquiring this land for the Yamuna Expressway authority. The yamuna expressway project, formerly known as Taj Expressway project, having a 165km 6-lane Yamuna Expressway from Agra to New Delhi and a township project near Gr. Noida was launched by the Mayawati Government with current estimated cost of about Rs9,739-crore.

The whole incident began on January 17 when farmers started agitating for better compensation for their land acquired by U.P. Govt.
but it become a controversial issue when on May 6 villagers took hostage an U.P. Roadways bus driver and two others while protesting against the state government’s land acquisition policies.

The situation worsen when the police started their efforts to release those Roadways employees by firing tear-gas shells over stone-pelting farmers to disperse them; and soon enough it was a war like situation…
shots were fired from both sides and 4 people got killed (including two farmer and two officials) and D.M. Deepak Agrawal along with S.S.P. , D.S.P. and other U.P. police officials were injured.

In reply the police officials burned down the standing crops and few of the houses of farmers were also seen on fire with many people still missing. Member of Parliament and General Sec. of the I.N.C. Mr. Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and presented his conclusion of death-toll being 74.
even if we don’t believe the reported figure the sorry state of police brutality can be see from these pictures.

Since last 4 months the farmers are on encompass under the leadership of Mr. Manveer Tewatia, who is former member of BSP,
INC, RLD and also fought election of Municipal Corporation on BSP ticket.; But the U.P. government is ignoring all this and now
Govt. denies any agitation linked to land acquisition and has also announced a Rs.50,000 reward for arrest of main agitation leader Mr. Manveer Tewatia.

It is nothing new for our country as far as land acquisition issue is concerned.
We have seen Singur, Nandigram, Dadari, Raigarh and many more cases in last few years. Now its time to find an answer for one burning question; why the same thing happens every time? Where is the fault? Who is the culprit? In our opinion it definitely belongs to our land acquisition policies. Our Government is still taking cover behind the Land Acquisition Act 1894. Definitely, this act which is around 117 year old was made by British Raj to take over vast tracts of land at throwaway compensation, which in today’s age of soaring land prices has become unacceptable and utterly useless.

The problem is very common that farmers never get the right compensation for their fertile land and If we talk about this particular Yamuna expressway controversy the picture is crystal clear, here the government is giving just Rs. 850-950 per sq.-meter to farmers and getting Rs 5400 for the same from builders but in open market price have jumped up to Rs 8000-10000 per sq.-meter; now tell me who else is sniffing a corruption bug here.

After every such type of incidents where farmers have suffer for the greed of corporate-government nexus, the Govt. have came forward in the past and assured us to bring a new land acquisition act and a new resettlement policy but it never cross the parliament irrespective of parties in power (BJP, INC, LEFT etc).

This whole incident is telling the situation of farmers in our country.
Shashtriji gave us a slogan of “JAI JAWAN JAI KISAN”.
But now this truth has become dark that real India lives in villages. If we want to save our nation; we have to save our farmers and their rights.JAI HIND………

The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present.
The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise — with the
occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We
must dis-enthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.”— Abraham Lincoln

Almost everyday, we come across situations which dawn upon us the
realization of our duty to concern ourselves with our affairs; as the
government adopts a policy of police state from laizzez-faire, to strive towards
the betterment of “WE” rather than “I”; to work for the “Greater Good”. And
the very next moment, the same idea is lost into the pool of Oblivion for fear
of criticism and social boycott!

Then there is the logic of being the only person in the whole crowd, to take
the initiative, whose efforts might not even be recognized. But not all of us
crave for recognition, do we? For the majority, just the knowledge of the fact is
enough that our action brought about a change, however minor it might have
been.

“Rome was not built in a day”; so the notion of an overnight change is almost
illusory. But, at the same time, individuals have to be woken up from their age
old yoke and oppression. And for that, people have to come forward and join
hands; shed away that veil of hesitation and recluse; take that initial step and
get involved with a free mind and complete devotion without any fetters of
cliché principles. One is all it takes to make another one. Its a start at making
connections with other people to build trust and unity within our community.
Just the genuine goodness and sincerity of one’s actions can make all the
difference in the world.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started; breaking our complex, tedious
tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one. We may
not be able to bring about a whirlpool but the satisfaction of knowing that we
caused a ripple is overwhelming.

In the end We’d like to remember what Jack Welch (b. 1935) U.S. chairman and C.E.O. Of General Electric once said;

“I don’t like the word empowerment. I think the word we’re really talking about is involvement … We want everyone to have a say.”